Torpedo and method of making same



:Maj 27, 1930. v RUTTER ET AL 1,760,004

TORPEDO AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Sept. 22, 1927 WHY/8855 1 IV V EN R W Mm m I ATTORNEY.

latented May 2 57, 1936 Urra are ra ar rarer rice TORPEIJO AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Application filed September 22, 1927. Serial No. 221,167.

Our invention relates to a pyrotechnical toy or torpedo, and particularly to the casing therefor and method of constructing the same.

5 In the conventional type of torpedo the explosive mixture is retained in the casing by adhesive substance, by crimping the ends of the casing, by gluing or tying same.

One of the objects of our invent-ion is to provide a torpedo having a casing which will require no crimping, gluing, tying or adhesive substance for securing the parts thereof for confining the explosive mixture therein.

Another object is to provide a torpedo which may be more economically and efficiently manufactured.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved torpedo.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the torpedo during the course of manufacture and shows the casing after receiving the explosive mixture.

Figure 3 is a like view of the finished torpedo after the closing retainer has been in- 80 serted and the explosive mixture confined in the casing.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the re tainer.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a cylindrical tube or casing, open at both ends, and 2 indicates the retainer for confining the explosive mixture 3 in thecasing.

The retainer is substantially cup-shaped and comprises a convex wall 4 and an annular flange 5.

The retainer is made from a fiat circular disk of suitable material and is pressed to cup-like form.

The retainer should be of sufiicient thick- 4 ness and stiffness to provide the necessary rigidity to prevent collapse of the casing.

The method of making our improved torpedo consists in pressing one of the formed retainers shown in Figure 4 into one end of the cylindrical casing, the annular flange of the retainer extending toward and within one end of the casing in its final position. A quantity of explosive mixture 3 is then placed in the casing. The torpedo will then present an appearance such as shown in Figure 2 with the explosive mixture loosely retained in the casing. The casing is then ready to be closed. This is preferably accomplished by placing the bottom of the casing upon a die (not shown) and then inserting the closing retainer by means of a plunger. When the closing retainer is pressed into the casing andagainst the explosive mixture, the convex walls 4 of both retainers will be somewhat flattened which will have a tendency to spread or flare the outer edges of the annular flanges t and cause them to frictionally grip the inside of the casing and retain the explosive mixture in a confined and compactmass, such as shown in Figure 8.

Of course, the torpedo illustrated may be modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein described and hereafter claimed.

We claim 1. A torpedo comprising a cylindrical casing having means disposed in each end thereof for retaining an explosive mixture within the casing, the said means comprising frustro-conical shaped cups positioned within the ends of the cylinder and having their closed ends extending toward the explosive mixture.

2. A torpedo comprising a cylindrical casing, explosive mixture therein, cup-shaped retainers adapted to lit in the ends of said casing, the diameter of the open end of each retainer being greater than the diameter of any other portion.

3. A cylinder shaped torpedo having an explosive mixture therein, and means provided for closing the ends of the cylinder comprising cup-shaped members of substantially rigid material, one cup-shaped memher being positioned in each end of the cylinder with their closed ends toward the explosive mixture, the edges of the open ends of the members adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface of the cylinder for preventing the explosive mixture from forcing the members out of the cylinder when the said mixture explodes.

4. A retainer for closing the end of a cylindrical torpedo comprising a cup-shaped memher, the diameter of the opened end of the member being greater than any other portion of said member, one member adapted to it into each end of the torpedo and positioned so that the outer edges of the members w lie Within the body of the torpedo and a considerable distance from the edges of the ends of the cylinder. a

5. A torpedo comprising a cylinder having an explosive mixture therein, retainers for" r the ends of the said cylinders, the retainers being of cup-shape and positioned Within the ends ofthe cylinder havin'g'their closed ends extending toward the explosive mixture so that when the mixture is exploded, the pressure against the closed ends of the retainers tend to spread their open ends for preventing displacement of the said retainers'from the cylinder.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

MONT BUTTER. I EMIL E. LECHLEB. 

